Best Rated Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can be great to keep your floors clean however they aren't a replacement for the regular vacuum. Even the best automatic floor cleaner vacuums struggle to get deep into carpets or rugs, and can often get caught in socks and cords.

Maintaining a regular schedule of maintenance (replacing filters cutting hair that is tangled from brushes, and emptying the dust bin) can help your robot cleaner amazon last longer.

Battery Life

Most robot vacuums can handle just a few cleaning sessions before needing a charge. The Ecovacs Q30S Combo is the runner-up of our top picks. It comes with an energy-efficient battery that can last up to 180 minutes (3,230 square foot) on a single charge. This should suffice for homes that have the combination of hard flooring and carpets with low pile or larger homes with rooms that are similar in size.

A longer battery life means the robot will be able to spend less time charging and more time cleaning. You should select one with an auto vacuum cleaner-emptying bin. These models are more efficient in collecting debris and then returning to docks to recharge. It's important to clean or replace filters and clean the sensors and cameras on a regular schedule so they can see clearly.

Smart mapping technology is a beneficial feature, since you can program your robot to ensure it only cleans certain rooms or stays clear of areas where it is likely to bump into furniture or other obstacles. It's also beneficial for ensuring your robot is able to go under and around beds, sofas and other furniture that is tall. Some cheap robovacs offer boundary strips you can place on the floor to block off certain areas, and other models with higher-end features use cameras and sensors to accomplish this.

Even the most powerful robot vacuums aren't able to replace a traditional automated vacuum when it comes to heavy-duty, large-pile dirt and debris. It's best to keep an electric vacuum in your home to tackle these tasks, and also schedule robot vacs for light cleanings throughout the week.

Navigation

A robot should be able to navigate you home without getting stuck or crashing into objects such as metal screws or pet hair that is loose, or sand. In our tests, we use an instrument to track the robot as it moves through a multiroom lab. It shows its surroundings. We also test how the robot is able to avoid obstacles such as power cords, furniture leg and pet waste.

The most advanced robots are able to create different floors and recognize landmarks, like windows and doors. The most advanced robots, such as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra have a dual sensor navigation system which utilizes an LIDAR to draw a room's layout and a structured-light camera on the front to spot objects in real-time. This allows the S8 to stay clear of common obstacles, such as furniture legs and power cords, and it can store up to four floor maps within its internal memory.

Cheaper models don't come with this kind of detection and rely on bump sensors which aren't as accurate. In my tests, they plowed right through cords, dog poop, and even a pair of shoes placed in the middle of the room. The most affordable choice, the Dreametech D10+, is one exception to this. It has excellent carpet and hard floor, tangle and hair pickup. It also has an auto empty score that is close to perfect.

Another important feature is a huge onboard dustbin which doesn't have to be manually emptied, and for the models that mop, a tank of water that can last for weeks of cleaning sessions. Karcher's RCV 5 is a great example of this. It has a big enough footprint to fit under furniture, but not so big that it can't fit into the nook between your toilet and tub.

Apps

Robot vacuums are a lot similar to upright models and require lots of technology to bring them up to speed. The result is a mature market with plenty of options. Even the most advanced models require interaction from their users particularly when it comes time to schedule cleanings, create the floor plan of your home, and set up virtual barriers.

To lessen the chance of this interaction, consider looking for a model that has its own app to recognize the layout of your home and save those settings for future use. This will allow the robot vacuum to continue where it left off when it runs again, instead of having the mapping process restarted each time.

You should also look for models that provide zone or spot cleaning. They allow you to instruct the robot vacuum to focus on a specific area for example, like under the dining room table after the family's big meal. It is possible to do this via the app or voice commands.

Many models also offer objects-avoidance. It permits the robot, when it sees something in its way such as a box shoe or a crate with dog toys, to guide itself around. This will prevent it from running into objects that could damage its sensors or cause jams.

Some of the most expensive models we tested include this feature. They depend on bump sensor technology for this however they did not always stay clear of things I tested at home.

Pet Hair

When it comes to removing pet hair, choose a model that's designed specifically to handle this kind of debris. The most effective models come with powerful suction and a brush that prevents the tangling and an emptying mechanism that will automatically dump hair into the dust bin when it is needed. Some can also detect dirt levels and adjust the cleaning intensity according to the amount of dirt. They also can detect objects that aren't part of your home flooring, like toys, furniture and food bowls.

Some robot vacuums come with additional pet-friendly features. These include the water dispenser that can be used to clean floors, and an HEPA filtration system that reduces allergens, such as pet dander. They could also feature a quieter mode of operation to minimize the amount of noise that is generated during cleaning.

Robot vacuums that include mapping capabilities are an excellent option for pet owners, as they're engineered to assess your home and devise plans of attack in accordance with the layout and obstructions in every room. For example the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Robot vacuum robot is a smart vacuum with an impressive ability to map the room and navigate around furniture and other obstructions using accelerometer and gyroscope smart sensors that work together to learn the layout of your room.

Other models that are more advanced let you create no-go zones, which are areas that the robot is meant to stay clear of, such as fragile items or pet feeding spots--by adjusting settings via an app. This feature can be especially useful for households with busy schedules as it permits you to plan your cleaning schedule and adjust settings without having to be in the same room as the vacuum. Spot cleaning is a excellent feature. You can direct the vacuum cleaner to clean a spot that is especially dirty or stuffed with pet hair.

Dust Bin

If you don't want anything small, go for a model with a large bin or even a self-emptying bin. That's why we recommend opting for a model with an enormous bin or a self-emptying dustbin. The one will let you keep up with emptying your bin often enough to keep it functioning. The latter will help you save time and effort by automatically emptying the contents into an internal container every few cleanings.

Find models that have smart mapping capabilities, which enable them to "learn" the layout of your home and devise more efficient routes. They can also sense and avoid objects that could hinder their routes (like shoelaces or tangled charging cables). Make sure you choose models with smart mapping capabilities. This lets them "learn the layout of your house and design a more efficient route.

Some models offer spot cleaning. This lets you choose a specific area of your home for thorough cleaning. We've discovered that many of the top performers in our tests are able to pick up fine particles like sand and baking soda, together with larger debris such as oatmeal, orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair.

Based on the manufacturer, most robots can last for a long time and continue to perform well so long as you keep up with maintenance, such as cleaning hair that is tangled from brushes and dust bins, emptying them after each use and wiping down sensors and cameras when required. The most reliable robots are more flexible. This makes it easier to repair or replace parts like wheels and batteries when they get worn out.